Vermont farmers to create their own organic certification

According to Grocery Business reports, a group of farmers and scientists in Vermont had written standards for their own organic requirements. The plan was to launch this summer on 20 to 60 farms. The operations would add the label after they were certified by an inspector. The label would list information that details if produce had been grown in soil or if meat and dairy products came from farms that pasture their animals. Grocery Business said the new label was the result of controversy over whether the U.S. Department of Agriculture should include hydroponics and aquaponics in its certification program. This new label would exclude hydroponic farming from certification. Large livestock farms that don’t pasture their animals would also not be eligible for the new certification.